Paul Lee's dad so proud as Gilas new boy fulfills dream to play for Philippine team

Paul Lee's dad Edwin reveals it has always been the Rain or Shine star's dream to play for flag and country. Jerome Ascano

PAUL Lee had one touching message to his father Edwin thru viber moments after helping Gilas Pilipinas escape with a thrilling 71-70 win over a resilient Jordan side on Tuesday night in the FIBA-Asia Cup.

And it read, “Papa, are you proud of me?”

Of course, the elder Lee, who’s based in Tondo, Manila couldn’t have been prouder of his son especially at the way Lee has been living his dream of playing for the national team for the first time.

Paul’s father has also shown no sign of regret that son is currently carrying his mother’s surname at the back of his jersey for the entire tournament owing to a technicality when his birth certificate was registered.

Carrying the surname Dalistan, Lee has so far been a revelation for Gilas in the Fiba-Asia Cup, although this doesn’t mean a sure slot for the Rain or Shine combo guard in the coming Fiba-World Cup in Spain, according to the elder Lee.

Lee’s girlfriend, Rubie Chua, is also proud that her boyfriend has been receiving positive words from fans the way he’s been performing for Gilas, which he currently leads in scoring with 14.7 points, aside from 2.7 assists and 1.0 rebound in the team’s three-game sweep of Group B in the preliminaries.

The proud girlfriend disclosed she would also act as Lee’s adviser whenever the two of them talk over the phone after every game in Wuhan, China.

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“Tumatawag siya, nagtatanong about the game. Tapos ako naman sinasabi ko yung nakikita ko like nung game one may apat na turnovers siya. Sabi ko kulang siya sa composure at naging tentative. He works on it naman,” Chua said with a smile.